Kitchen of the Week
Kitchen of the Week: Bright and Spacious With a Touch of Brass
A 1920s galley kitchen expands and lightens up in Los Angeles
Brushed-brass hardware and Carrara marble countertops accessorize Shaker-style custom cabinets painted in White Dove by Benjamin Moore.
Replica Cherner barstools that Muirhead found through Rove Concepts tuck under an oversized island for extra seating. “The wood really helps to warm up the space,” Muirhead says. “And they are high-end, but also family-friendly as you can wipe them down.”
Old appliances, like a vintage oven, were swapped out for high-end equipment such as the Wolf stovetop and oven, along with a Vent-A-Hood 48-inch undercabinet range hood.
Replica Cherner barstools that Muirhead found through Rove Concepts tuck under an oversized island for extra seating. “The wood really helps to warm up the space,” Muirhead says. “And they are high-end, but also family-friendly as you can wipe them down.”
Old appliances, like a vintage oven, were swapped out for high-end equipment such as the Wolf stovetop and oven, along with a Vent-A-Hood 48-inch undercabinet range hood.
The island houses a built-in microwave and wine rack, while above it hang brass and glass pendant lights from Thomas O’Brien. Muirhead used glass light fixtures throughout the space so views wouldn’t be obstructed.
Seagrass shades from The Shade Store block intense sunlight while also warming up the space with a natural texture.
Behind the stovetop, a slab of honed Carrara marble continues up the wall, giving a clean and contemporary look to the kitchen.
On the opposite side of the kitchen, a blue-gray tile backsplash pays homage to the history of the 1920s Spanish-style home, while also complementing the dinette’s blue fabrics and Carrara marble’s gray veins.
A farmhouse sink along with a smaller prep sink tucked in the island add a vintage touch. Above the sink, a brushed-brass and glass swing-arm lamp from Schoolhouse Electric provides a classic element.
By removing a former peninsula and building banquette seating with bench storage for the kids to tuck away their craft supplies, the designer created a more functional dining nook. Blue seat cushions are covered in a matte lamination to protect the fabric and make cleaning up messes easier. “I love this space because it’s such a pretty kitchen but also functional for kids,” Muirhead says.
Her finishing touches include a contemporary table with a walnut top from Room & Board, steel bistro chairs from Overstock and a pendant light from Restoration Hardware.
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Her finishing touches include a contemporary table with a walnut top from Room & Board, steel bistro chairs from Overstock and a pendant light from Restoration Hardware.
Browse more Kitchens of the Week
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 295 square feet (27.4 square meters)
Interior designer: Jennifer Muirhead Interiors
Designer Jennifer Muirhead originally discussed a cosmetic refresh with the homeowners for their 1920s Spanish-inspired kitchen, but after some discussion they decided that a complete renovation was in order to get a kitchen that could fully accommodate their growing family. “We blew out the kitchen wall and bumped it out into the narrow patio space so it has an L-shape,” Muirhead says. “We retained some of the patio and put a little seating area outside too.”
A new, large picture window and skylight help to bring in more natural light. New wood floors, matched to the existing flooring throughout the home, replace tile.